Chapter 6

I was warming up when I noticed Lucy walk into the gym shyly. I smiled her way encouraging her and it seemed to work as she straightened her back walking to her teammates already dressed in her uniform. I saw Levy and Erza along with Wendy to run to her hugging her tightly, almost crying, so glad to see her back. I turned my eyes back to the game satisfied with what I saw and as I wanted to switch with Alzac, the commotion from the cheerleaders stopped the entire game.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Lisanna's loud voice cut through the gym, making them the center of everyone's attention. I saw Lisanna glare at Lucy, who was just getting into formation.

"Practicing?" Lucy's answer was more of a question.

"You can leave. You're not on the team anymore."

I was as shocked as Lucy. I kept staring at them with my mouth open, not able to say anything.

"It's your fault for slacking off when a big game is in three days. I already got your spot covered so go away."

"What the hell?!" I yelled at her. "Who do you think you are? Natsu say something!" I was mad beyond believe. Natsu moved through the gym making his way to the cheerleaders and to my big surprise he stood next to Lisanna and put his hand around her waist. My eyes widened in shock at what I was seeing. Whole gym was quiet, even coach stayed from this as I started seeing red. I was furious beyond believe. I wanted to wipe Lisanna's smirk right off that nasty face of hers, when Natsu finally spoke.

"Lisanna is right Luce. Sorry."

I saw Lucy's face covered in pain and betrayal. Tears formed in her eyes when she turned around and ran from the gym sobbing quietly. The rage I felt was monstrous. Before I knew what was doing I was right besides Natsu with my fist in his face.

"You big bag of dicks! How could you! I thought we stick together!"

Laxus and Gajeel jumped to us and held me as Natsu tried to get up from the floor wiping the bruised cheer with the back of his hand glaring at me.

"It's none of your business."

Laxus and Gajeel weren't weak by any means but I was giving them a hard time keeping me in check. All I wanted to do was punch the soul out of him at that moment. I managed to slip by and punch him again till I was held back again.

"Gray calm down." Laxus tried his best to make me chill but I was nowhere near calm. I shook their hands off of me, both Laxus and Gajeel standing between me and Natsu, while Loke was at my side tugging at my shoulder to pull me away.

"Fuck this. Team my ass. I quit!" I spit at Natsu's direction, not really sure if it hit him or not, and stormed out of the gym.

"Hey! Gray, wait! Hey!" I shut the door behind me cutting coaches pleas and started to run. There was just one thing on my mind now. Lucy.

It took me a while to find her. She was in the girls' bathroom after all. I had the moral dilemma weather to step inside that secret ground, but in the end, I never really had a choice. I just said fuck it, and stepped inside like a man. And what do you know? There she was, curled on the floor, crying her eyes out just like at her house. Alone. My anger vanished in a second. Just like then, I took her in my arms and held her till she cried her eyes out. I held her to me and gritted my teeth. Good job protecting her, Gray!

"I'm so sorry."

I kept apologizing, stroking her back. I took her back home without delay.

Arriving to our driveway I stepped out of my car and just as I was about to open the door for Lucy, the door to our house opened. For I moment I saw Ur at the steps with a wide smile waving at me enthusiastically. My vision was interrupted when Lyon came storming right through Ur making her vanish into thin air. In a flash he was beside me and punched me right in the face so hard I fell to the floor. The next minute looked like it was going in slow motion. I saw Lucy jump out of the car and to my side as well as Cana's door open and Cana storming between me and Lyon with her back facing me. Lyon's face was furious.

"What the hell Lyon!" Cana held onto his shoulders forcing him to stay away from me. I caressed my bruised cheek and spit out a bit of blood.

"I'm happy to see you too, brother," I said sarcastically, which made Lyon even angrier than he was and Cana had a hard time keeping him in check.

"How dare you!" he yelled my way. "After all Ur did for you! For us! She raised us here, you asshole!" tears were forming in his eyes as he kept trying to reach me to punch me again.

"What's this about?" confused Lucy held onto my shoulder helping me stand up. As I stood up I made Lucy hide behind my back and from Lyon's reach.

"It's about him wanting to sell the house, that's what." He glared me, but seemed to take a bit control back when he finally saw a stranger by my side and looking for answers in my eyes. "Just what are you thinking Gray? I thought you loved her. Ur. You were her favorite, so why?"

I felt Lucy's shocked eyes on me.

"You're selling the house? Gray!"

I ignored Lucy focusing on Lyon.

"It's the only way."

"And you didn't even plan on asking me and Ultear what we think about it?"

"What else was I supposed to do Lyon?! Huh?" Desperation was heard in my voice as my emotions got the better of me. "Ur is gone, Lyon. She's gone and I don't know what do to anymore. Everything is a mess. My life is a mess. You and Ultear were away! You didn't even bother to call once since you left. I can't afford this house. With what Ur left behind I could pay just for three or four months. I already payed for a funeral for Ur and Lucy's dad with my college money!" At this point I was straight on crying seeing Lyon's shocked face just as a blur. I fell back to my knees sobbing and holding my hands to my face wishing Ur was here. She would have known what to do. "What am I supposed to do, Lyon?" my voice was desperate. "What other choice do I have?"

Lyon's face lost all his anger, all that was left was just the same pain I was feeling. Loosing Ur was like death itself. Losing the house pains me greatly, but what else can I do? What other choice do I have?

Suddenly I felt Lucy sobbing quietly next to me.

"You payed for my father's funeral?"

I just nodded, not sure what else was there to say.

"When?"

"After you left the principal's office I slipped him an envelope with money and a note with what I wanted him to do. Then before practice he caught me on my way and said he'll take care of it." My voice was quiet, not sure if Cana or Lyon even heard.

"But why?" she asked, her voice trembling as she held onto me, her arms wrapped around my neck. I cupped her hand with mine and smiled softly, eyes still wet with tears.

"Did you have some other plan?"

"No," I heard her mumble feeling a new set of her tears on my shoulder.

"That's why. I'm not leaving you alone in this."

She just nodded and held onto me tighter. After a while I felt her take a deep breath and wipe her face with the back of her hand.

"If that's the case, I can't let you sell the house."

Both Lyon and I stared at her dumb folded, as she straightened her back with a determined look on her face.

"Lucy. I can't afford this house."

"I can help you with bills. My father left behind quite a lot."

I just patted her head.

"You seem to forget that mansion you have to take care of."

She pouted at me ruining her plan completely and even in a situation like this I couldn't help but think how cute she looked pouting like that.

"I'll sell my house," she said determined.

That made me laugh.

"You'll what?"

She sighed and bit her lower lip.

"I don't want to go back to that place. I already feel more at home at your place than I ever did at mine."

At this point I totally forgot about Cana and Lyon that stool just few feet away from us. I turned to Lucy and cupped her cheek.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to do that?"

She gave me a determined nod and I sighed closing my eyes. The thought of keeping the house tempting as hell. I didn't want to lose a place that Ur loved so much.

"That house is empty, Gray. Yours is full of pleasant family memories. Even a stranger like me can tell. You can't sell that house. I won't let you."

Lyon just put his hands into his pockets and turned to leave back into the house, nothing more to say. Cana offered me a hand I took it and stood up. She patted my back and Lucy leaned onto my shoulder. We all made our way to the house following Lyon and talking over what we're gonna do next.